Farmed Pig Respiratory Health and Welfare

Respiratory disease is one of the most prevalent and welfare-significant health challenges in commercial pig production, closely linked to housing ventilation, stocking density, and biosecurity.

Key Facts

Enzootic pneumonia and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) are leading pig respiratory diseases
Respiratory disease affects an estimated 30 to 50% of finishing pigs in some intensive systems
Poor ventilation leading to ammonia and dust accumulation is a primary risk factor for respiratory disease
Biosecurity practices including all-in all-out management significantly reduce respiratory disease prevalence
Pigs with respiratory disease show reduced activity, coughing, labored breathing, and significant pain

Welfare Considerations

Pigs with respiratory disease experience breathlessness, fever, and chest pain that reduces activity and welfare significantly across large proportions of finishing herds. The link between environmental quality — particularly ventilation, ammonia levels, and stocking density — and respiratory welfare is well established. Improving housing ventilation, reducing stocking density, implementing biosecurity, and providing appropriate vaccination programs are all evidence-based interventions that simultaneously improve pig welfare and reduce production losses from disease.

What You Can Do

Support pork welfare certification requiring minimum ventilation standards and ammonia monitoring
Advocate for stocking density regulations that reduce respiratory disease pressure in pig housing
Choose pork from producers with transparent health monitoring and respiratory disease prevalence data
Learn about the connection between housing environment and pig respiratory welfare